sat at the tea-table of their hotel, a messenger announced that the jury had returned to their seats. All repaired immediately to the court-house, and while the prisoner was being brought from the jail, the court-room was filled to overflowing with citizens of the town. When the prisoner and his mother entered, silence reigned as completely as though the house were empty. The foreman of the jury, in answer to the usual inquiry from the court, delivered the verdict of 'Not Guilty!'

"The widow dropped into the arms of her son, who lifted her up, and told her to look upon him as before, free and innocent. Then, with the words, 'Where is Mr. Lincoln?' he rushed across the room and grasped the hand of his deliverer, while his heart was too full for utterance. Lincoln turned his eyes toward the west, where the sun still lingered in view, and then, turning to the youth, said: 'It is not yet sundown, and you are free.' I confess that my cheeks were not wholly unwet by tears, and I turned from the affecting scene. As I cast a glance behind, I saw Abraham Lincoln obeying the divine injunction by comforting the widowed and the fatherless."

It was while employed in Offutt's store, in New Salem, Ill., that Lincoln began to be called "Honest Abe." He was judge, arbitrator, referee, umpire, authority in all disputes, games, and matches of

man-flesh and horse-flesh; a peacemaker in all quarrels; everybody's friend; the best-natured, the most sensible, the best-informed, the most modest and unassuming, the kindest, gentlest, roughest, strongest, best young fellow in all the region round about.

Lincoln could not rest for an instant under the consciousness that he had, even unwittingly, defrauded anybody. On one occasion he sold a woman a little bill of goods, amounting to two dollars six and a quarter cents. He received the money, and the woman went away. On adding the items of the bill again, to make himself sure of correctness, he found that he had taken six and a quarter cents too much. It was night, but he closed and locked the store, and started on foot for the house of his defrauded customer, two miles away, and delivered to her the sum due her. Then he returned home satisfied.

In 1832, Lincoln and a man named Berry bought a store in New Salem. Berry had little means, and Lincoln gave his personal note for the amount involved. They failed in a short time, and Mr. Lincoln carried the burden of the debt for sixteen years, when he paid the last cent out of his congressional salary. He referred to this experience in his life as "paying the national debt."

THE

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

HE Black Hawk War broke out in 1832, and Lincoln enlisted in a company being formed in New Salem. He was elected captain, and after his elevation to the Presidency referred to this action of his neighbors and friends as one of the proudest moments of his life. He was mustered into service by Lieutenant Robert Anderson, afterward commander of Fort Sumter when it fell.

His company did not have an opportunity to distinguish itself, but the experience enabled Mr. Lincoln to enliven one of his speeches while in Congress by the following allusion to it:

"By the way, Mr. Speaker," said Lincoln, "do you know I am a military hero? Yes, sir; in the days of the Black Hawk War, I fought, bled, and came away. Speaking of General Cass's career reminds me of my own. I was not at Stillman's defeat, but I was about as near it as Cass to Hull's surrender; and, like him, I saw the place very soon afterward. It is quite certain I did not break my sword, for I had none to break; but I bent my musket pretty badly on one occasion.

If

General Cass went in advance of me in picking whortleberries, I guess I surpassed him in charges upon the wild onions. If he saw any live, fighting Indians, it was more than I did, but I had a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes; and although I never fainted from loss of blood, I can truly say I was often very hungry." Lincoln concluded by saying that if he ever turned Democrat, and should run for the Presidency, he hoped they would not make fun of him by attempting to make him a military hero!

The war did, however, give an opportunity for Lincoln to exhibit his moral courage. One day there came into the camp an old Indian. He was weary and hungry, and had a safe conduct from General Cass, but the men were so incensed against the entire race, that they denounced him as a spy. They were about to kill him, when Lincoln stepped between them and their intended victim. He was terribly angry, and his manner cowed them. After a moment one shouted:

"Lincoln, this is cowardly of you."

Looking at him with contempt, Lincoln replied: "If any man thinks I am a coward, let him test

me."

"You are bigger and braver than any of us." "That you can guard against; choose your own weapons."

IN PUBLIC LIFE.

SOON

after his return from the Black Hawk War

in 1832, Lincoln announced himself as a Whig candidate for the Legislature in a speech delivered at Pappsville, Sangamon County, Illinois. It was his maiden effort, and was as follows:

"GENTLEMEN, FELLOW-CITIZENS,-I presume you all know who I am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by my friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like an old woman's dance.' I am in favor of a national bank. I am in favor of the international improvement system and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected, I will be thankful. If defeated, it will be all the same." He was defeated, but not dismayed. He studied what he should do-thought of learning the blacksmith's trade—but the opportunity offering to buy the store with Berry, he did so. After his failure, while clerking in a Mr. Ellis's store, he bought an old volume of Blackstone at a store in Springfield, and gave himself up to studying law. Other books were loaned him by a friend, to secure which